Terminal connection



Q ep 13,1932. L. A. KOCH, JR 1,877,671

TERMINAL CONNECTION Filed, Dec. 29. 1931 awe/WM I .Zouz'a A. K0ch,Jn

Patented Sept. 13, 1932 UNITED STATES LOUIS A. xocH, JR, or LOUISVILLE, KnrrruoKY,

TEniuINAL connection I Application filed December 2a 1931; Seria1 No. 583,7'67.

This invention relates to terminalconnections and refers more especially-to. a new and improved terminal connection for establishing electrical contact to the pig tail terminals of neon-tubes. The invention has for its principal object to provide a terminal connection which may be utilized to make a quick detachable connection in devices which are subjected to vibration as in neontube signs mounted on motor vehicles.

To the accomplishment of the foregoing related ends, said invention, then, consists of the means hereinafter fully described andparticularly pointed out in the claim.

In said annexed drawing Figure 1 is a plan View of my improved terminal con nection in use showing a portion of a neontube and terminal;

Figure 2, a similar view on an enlarged scale taken on the section line 11 of Fig ure 4;

Figure 3, a detail sectional view of the spring contact element and neon-tube terminal taken on line 3-3 of Figure 2; and

Figure 4 a vertical sectional view on an enlarged scale taken on line 44 of Figure 1.

As stated hereinbefore, the present inven tion is primarily directed to improvements in terminal connections for use with neontubes or other electrical devices employing so-callcd pig tail terminals and to also provide an improved terminal connection which may satisfactorily withstand vibration, while atthe same time providing means which permit the ready detachment of the neon-tube or other device from the terminal connection. v

In the accompanying drawing I have illustrated as a preferred embodiment of this invention one end of a neon-tube 10 having projecting therefrom a pig tail terminal 11, the tube being held with respect to a base 12 by means of the usual strap 'or other mounting device 18. The base 12 in this embodiment consists of a plate of insulated material and in which is mounted adjacent the terminal 11 the present terminal connection device 13'.

This terminal connection is extremely simple in construction and provides a yielding the nuts 20 and 21'withthe inner end 1 8v of w contact element adapted fordetachab'le engagement with the terminal 11- so as to permit the changing of the neon-tubeswithout disturbing the terminal connection; More spe- 1 cifically my'terminal connection comprises a screwl4 having its end projecting beyond the surface of'the plate 12 and its head 15 at the oppositeside of ;suchplate.1A nut 16 is 1 threaded uponthe screw 14 to rigidly secure the sametothe plate .12 and to provide, as-

willhereinafter appear, for certain rotary ad ustment ofsaid *screw. The outerend of such screw 14 is bifurcated-as at 17 in jwhichslot is received theend-IS of a'spirally coiled leaf spring contact 19. Nuts 20. and 5 21; are also threaded on the screwrl4 at either side of the spring 19 and engage-with one or; more of the innermost convolutions "of such springto lock itsinner end to the screw 14 as best seen in Figure 4. The outer end 22 2 of the leaf spring contact element 19 projects laterally beyond the screw 14 into the proximity of the terminal 11 and is adapted to engage therewith when the neon-tube 10 is clamped in place. a This outer end 22 may be 175 suitably recessed or provided with an indentation 23 into which is received the outer ex tremity of terminal 11, thus absolutely insuring any sidewise displacement of the spring end 22 with respect to such terminal as might r3 be caused through vibration of the device as when the neon-tube and terminal connection is mounted on a motor Vehicle. 7

7 As has been mentioned hereinbefore it is also within the purview of this invention to 1' 5 provide for certain rotary adjustment of the screw 14 in order to vary at will the tension 1 of the outer end 22 of the spring contact element with respect to the neon-tube termlnal 11. This may be easily accomplished by sim- 60 ply loosening the nut 16 and rotat ng the screw 14 in the desired direction until such tension on the outer end of this spring 1s proper and thereafter to tighten the nut 16 A uponthe plate 12, thus permanently and r1gidly holding the several parts in adjusted position. This adjustment of the screw does not interfere with the locked engagement of the spring contact.

Means for connecting the electrical conductor 24 to the screw of my terminal connection may consist of a terminal device 25 to which the end 26 of cable 24 is soldered as at 27 and having the hole 28 therethrough to receive the screw 14. This terminal device 25 may be placed upon the screw 14: in any desired position. In the illustratedembodiment I have shown the same placed in contact in the inner endof spring 19 and held. in I place by means of nut 21.

I claim: g

A terminal connection comprising an insulated base, a screw rotatably mounted therein and having its outer end bifurcated, a

coiled leaf spring having its inner end re- CBIVQCl 1n said bifurcatlon and its outer end adapted to be engaged under tension with an electric terminal, nuts threaded on said screw at each side of the inner end of the spring to secure the same to said screw, and

a third nutthreaded to said screw for engagement with the base to lock the screw to the latter, said last nut permitting rotatable adjustment of said screw to vary the tension of the outer end of said spring against a terminal, and said spring constituting at all times a current "carrying portion-of a circuit in which a terminal engaged thereby may be included,

--Initestimony whereof I hereunto afiix my signature. 7 I

LOUIS A. KOCH, JR. 

